Pullman-berth guard



Aug. 17 1926.

INVENTOR 11.15! n2 TWEL L. HARTWELL PULLMAN HERTH GUARD Filed April 25, 1925 W ATTORNEYS panying drawings forming phcation,

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE HARTWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PULLMAN-IBERTH GUARD.

My invention relates to improvements in Pullman berth guards, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a Pullman berth guard that may be easily connected to the trunk of the berth and which is adapted to extend across the front of the berth so as to prevent persons in the aisle from being thrown into the berth, in case the car should give a sudden lurch, as in rounding a curve or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a Pullman berth guard which is provided with portions that may be swung into open position so as to permit the occupant of the berth to pass into or out of the berth.

A further object of my invention is to provide a Pullman berth guard which is extremely simple in construction and which may be rolled up into a compact bundle and disposed in the upper section when that section is swung into closed position during day travel.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the application will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompart of this apin which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, and

Figure 2 is a cross section through a por tion of a Pullman car, showing the device operatively applied in place, and as being positioned directly behind the Pullman curtains.

In carrying out my invention I provide a guard which is preferably made from leather strips or the like so as to be strong and durable for the purpose intended. The guard is adapted to stretch from headboard to headboard of the berth and to extend from a point level with the upper berth to a point just above the seats.

One of the principal purposes of the de vice is to employ it when the upper berth is not being used. Figure 2 shows the upper berth as being in closed position and it further shows the lower berth as being made up. The car 1 is provided with the usual. pole 2 to which the curtains 3 are secured. As heretofore stated, Figure 2 shows the upper berth section 1 as being disposed in closed position. Of course the upper berth i has been previously swung down so as to remove therefrom the headboards 5 and the bedding for the lower berth. WVhen the upper berth 4. is not used a pole 6 is disposed between the headboards 5 and provides a support for the berth guard.

I will now describe the special construction of the guard. The guard is composed of three sections, two of which are similar to each other, but are disposed in reverse position, and a third section which connects the first two together. I will refer to the first two sections by A and to the third section by B. The sections A are shaped so as to conform to the top of the seats 7 and are provided with straps 8 by means of which these sections are secured to the headboards 5 and to the seats 7. In addition to the straps 8 I provide straps 9 that. have hooks 10. The hooks are received by the pole 6. The sections A consist of a number of straps 11 that form a lattice-work, while the section B comprises a number of horizontally extending straps 12 that have their free ends connected to the sections A. Vertical straps 13 are disposed at intervals along the section B and are secured to the straps 12 by stitching or the like. All of the straps are permanently secured to each other except the two straps 1d and 15. These straps have their free ends provided with hooks 16 and 17 that are adapted to be connected to eyelets l8 and 19 carried by one of the sections A. The strap 14: and a strap 20 carry rings 21 and 22 to which the hooks 16 and 17 may be secured. \Vhen the hooks are secured to the rings 21 and 22 the straps 1 1- and 15 may be swung into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. This will leave an opening (indicated at C) for permitting the occupant of theberth to gain entrance into the berth.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. As

heretofore stated, the guard is constructed of flexible straps and may therefore be rolled up into a small bundle and disposed in the upper section. When the porter makes the berth he not only removes the curtains 3, but also removes the guard. He first disposes the guard in position before attaching the curtains 3 to the pole 2. In case the upper berth is not being used and is swung up into closed position the guard provides a 20 a portion of the simple and efficient means for protecting the occupant of the berth. Even if the upper section is swung down into operative position, the guard may be used and will afford additional protection to the occupant The straps 8 are strong enough to withstand the shock of a person falling against the guard when the person is thrown by a lurch of the car.

Normally the straps 1i and 15 are secured to the eyelets or rings 18 and 19 so as to dispose the straps in the full line position shown in Figure 1. If, however, the person wishes to get out of theberth he detaches the hooks 16 and 17 from the rings 18 and 19 and secures the hooks to the rings 21iand This provides an opening C of sufiicient size for a person to pass theret-hrough. If desired, a hanger 23 may form guard and I show the hanger in Figure l as being secured to the topmost strap of one of the sections A.

I claim:

A Pullman berth guard comprising a frame consisting of a plurality of straps, means carried by the ends of said frame and by the top of said frame for securing the frame to the headboards and to the supporting rod, the bottom of said frame being provided with a recess extending between the adjacent seats of the berth, fastening means *ried by certain of the straps disposed ad jacent to the recess, and means cooperating with said fastening means for securing said last named straps in closed or open position, said last named straps when in open position enlarging the recess for permitting entrance into the berth.

LEE HARTWELL. 

